Audio Tracks

BIO
Brother Yusef: Fattback Blues—Raw, Gritty, Unstoppable
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Brother Yusef is a self-taught powerhouse—a master solo guitarist and a vocalist whose passion cuts deep. For over thirty years, he has forged a sound all his own: Fattback Blues, a rich fusion of Delta, Chicago, and Texas blues, driven by the relentless stomp of Louisiana rhythm. His music is raw, real, and as deep as the genre itself.
Armed with just a guitar, his right-hand thumb hammers out a percussive bass groove while his fingers carve out rhythm and lead, creating the drive of a full band. Blending the fire of traditional fingerpicking and slide guitar with the punch of urban blues, rock, and funk, he pours every ounce of himself into every note, turning the blues into something both primal and electrifying.
Born in Bakersfield, California, in 1963, Brother Yusef moved with his family to South Central Los Angeles at age four before settling in Altadena, California, in 1969. His first connection to music came through the thunderous energy of Holiness Church services in Bakersfield. The pounding drums, wailing electric guitars, and soul-shaking voices both terrified and thrilled him. Church wasn’t a quiet place of worship—it was alive, it was raw, it was a celebration. That spirit of deep, uninhibited expression would later find its way into his music.
Another defining moment came when he saw the Jackson 5 perform on television. But his focus wasn’t on Michael—it was on Tito and Jermaine, standing cool, commanding their guitars. Something clicked. That was it. The seed was planted.
At 19, he picked up a guitar and never looked back. He immersed himself in blues, jazz, reggae, funk, and rock, searching for his voice. But the blues wasn’t just a genre—it was home. He came to see it the way his ancestors did: as survival, healing, and freedom.
From backwoods juke joints to the fiery emotion of a sanctified church, from festival stages to street corners, Brother Yusef delivers a blues experience that is felt as much as it is heard. His deep-pocket fingerpicking and searing slide guitar churn out a sound that’s as gritty as a Mississippi Delta back road and as fresh as a city street performance. A true one-man band, he stomps, chugs, and testifies with every note, pouring heart and fire into his music.
If you can stand still while he plays, check your pulse—because this blues is alive, and it refuses to be ignored.

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Live at Downtown Disney

Career Highlights

Downtown Disney Resort, Anaheim California  •2001- 2016
Doheny Blues Festival, Dana Point California 2003 & 2005
 House of  Blues, Anaheim. Opening act for James Brown 2004
2006 Belgium Rhythm n Blues Festival, Peer Belgium 2006
Swift Current Stir Crazy Blues Festival  Canada  2011 
Saskatoon Blues Festival,  Canada   2011
Epcore Centre for the Performing Arts, Canada  2011
Big Apple Blues, Balboa & Lindy Exchange, New York City   2011 & 2013
Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland Oregon   2011, 2017 & 2019
Emerald City Blues Festival, Seattle Washington   2011 & 2019
​Holy City Blues Exchange, Charleston South Carolina   2011 & 2019
Thunder Bay Blues Festival, Thunder Bay Ontario - 2015
Korea Blues Camp 2015 Ga pyung, South Korea
Israel Feelin Blues Dance Festival 2016 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Busan Swing Festival 2016 - Busan, South Korea
2017 Mo Better Blues Dance Festival - Nashville TN.
Rockin & Swingin Dance Festival 2017- Seoul Korea
The Legendary Rhythem and Blues Cruise 2018 & 2019